A bogus clamper has been jailed after being found guilty of blackmailing motorists.
Mohammed Asif Ashraf, from Blackley in Manchester claimed to be a licensed ‘vehicle immobiliser’ and tricked motorists into parting with large sums of money.
Using the alias, Alex Ashcroft, the fraudster clamped at least 50 cars when he ran the unlicensed companies Clamp You and Unauthorised Clamping Solutions in 2009, using a home-made badge.
Victims were told that unless they paid £150, their vehicles would be towed and they would be forced to pay up to £400 in further fines.
Mr Ashraf stationed himself at backstreets behind busy roads and victims were often clamped outside workplaces and homes and while shopping.
The disgraced impostor pleaded not guilty at a Manchester Crown Court trial.
However, he was found guilty of posing as an approved employee, two charges of possessing documents for use of fraud and four counts of blackmail.
He was also charged with perverting the course of justice and two charges of making a false statement.
He was cleared of four further counts of blackmail and a theft charge.
Judge Michael Henshell said, “The facts of this case have demonstrated there is an urgent need for police to scrutinise the activities of car clamping operations in and around the city centre.
“In many instances, people were clamped at wholly unsociable hours – when they contacted police they were told it was a civil matter, as it may well be when clamping is carried out in a proper authorised manner.”
